China serious on banned products use

China is going all out in a nationwide agricultural
swoop to halt the use of banned pesticides and limit animal feed additives and
fertilizers.

Since a clean-up was launched last month 10 people have been arrested, 95
companies without appropriate licenses closed, and the business licenses of
another six firms revoked, according to figures released by vice minister of
agriculture Gao Hongbin.

The Ministry of Agriculture is "targeting 100%
surveillance of large- and medium-sized cities" in the hunt for illegal
pesticides and feed additives, Gao told a press conference in
Beijing.

Gao said authorities are also targeting the illegal production,
sale and application of five types of pesticides.

Relatively few
offendersThe ministry was attaching great importance to
agricultural inspections. There will also be random checks for pesticide residue
in farm produce. However, Gao stressed that offenders are in the
minority.

"More than 93 percent of the vegetables are safe in terms of
pesticide residue and more than 98 percent of meat products are up to scratch
concerning the remains of clenobuterol hydrochloride," Gao
said.

Clenobuterol hydrochloride is a muscle-developing drug some farmers
feed to pigs before selling them. It has been abolished due to side effects,
including human-heart problems.